Karnafuly Ship Builders ordered to remove structures on Karnaphuli river bank

The Chattogram district administration has instructed the Karnafuly Ship Builders Ltd (KSBL) to remove its structures and ghats built in the Sadarghat area on ​​the Karnaphuli river bank and restore the river's cold storage section to its previous condition.

Following complaints, an on-site investigation by the district administration on 19 October found that the KSBL had illegally filled the river and a nearby canal, said Galib Chowdhury, assistant commissioner of land management in Agrabad area of Chattogram. 

At the time, officials from the private company accepted the findings and committed to quickly restore the river to its previous condition, Galib added.

Earlier on 16 October, the Chattogram River and Canal Protection Movement had alleged that the KSBL was building a permanent structure by grabbing sections of the Karnaphuli river. 

They demanded the removal of 1,900 illegal structures from the river bank, including those of KSBL, and the renovation of the Sadarghat jetty.

The environmental group claimed that the district administration had removed 230 illegal structures on the river bank in February 2019 on the High Court's order. 

During the eviction drive, the then deputy commissioner of Chattogram district Elias Hossain demarcated boundaries for protected areas of the river bank and set up signboards. 

But, the KSBL built a permanent river ghat two hundred metres into the demarcated area.